September 1 2009
James Mwamu Vice Chairman of the Law Society of Kenya (left) with Council Member Evans Monari and Lillian Omondi during a press conference at LSK offices Nairobi on Tuesday. The society condemned the re-appointment of Justice Aaron Ringera and his two Deputy Directors at the helm of the Kenya Anti-Corruption Commission. PHOTO/ William Oeri

The Kenya Anti-Corruption Commission Advisory Board has challenged President Kibaki’s reappointment of Justice Aaron Ringera as the director of the anti-graft agency, and vowed to go ahead with its own meeting scheduled for Wednesday to discuss the position.

The board accused the President of making an illegal appointment, as outrage spread over the manner in which the Head of State had ignored the laws and public opinion to renew the term of an anti-graft chief widely seen to have failed in his duties.

Without approval

In Parliament, angry MPs threatened to paralyse House Business in protest against Mr Justice Ringera’s reappointment to a second five-year term without their approval.

One of the main partners in the governing coalition, Prime Minister Raila Odinga’s ODM also waded into the controversy, rejecting the reappointments of Mr Justice Ringera and his two assistants, Ms Fatuma Sichale and Dr Smokin Wanjala.

However, the KACC came to the defence of their embattled boss, insisting his re-appointment was within the law.

The commission also defended its performance, saying it was “impressive”.

Spokesman Nicholas Simani said in a statement that the process of appointing the director and his assistants was different from that of re-appointing the officers, adding more confusion to the saga.

In the House, MPs rejected all government business, including a Motion of Adjournment to grant them a two-month break. They also rejected a motion to reduce the period to debate a Bill that gives the government the authority to spend money allocated in the Budget, and refused to extend the sitting from the normal 6.30pm to complete business on the Order Paper ahead of the adjournment.

Outside the House, groups such as the Law Society of Kenya, Transparency International, Council of Imams and Preachers, the African Centre for Open Governance and the Federation of Women Lawyers (Fida) expressed displeasure with Mr Justice Ringera’s reappointment and urged President Kibaki to reverse his decision.

They termed the Head of State’s move illegal, contemptuous and a sign of impunity.

The KACC Advisory Board complained that it had not been consulted by the President before he made the announcement.

nation.co.ke